Quick disconnect tool, quick disconnect male connector and methods of using the quick disconnect and male connector

ABSTRACT

Provided are a quick disconnect tool and a male connector. The tool includes a socket, detents in the socket and a collar to open and close the detents. The male connector fits within the socket and cannot rotate within the socket. The male connector includes a recess into which the detents can lock the male connector inside the socket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a quick disconnect tool, a male connector, anda method of using the quick disconnect tool and male connector. The tooland male connector are suitable for high strength and high torqueapplications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The interlocking action in a quick disconnect coupling is commonlyprovided by a set of balls annularly disposed and received with asuitable clearance into recesses, provided in a cylindrical sleeve ofthe female portion, the balls cooperating with a groove of the maleportion, the side faces of which forming ramps, so that when the maleportion is introduced into the female portion, the balls are first movedradially towards the outer by a ramp of the groove of the male portion,and are then resiliently urged into a groove having a suitable contourformed into the peripheral surface of the male portion.

In such a type of quick disconnect coupling, the radial movement of theballs is generally controlled by a surrounding collar slidably receivedonto the sleeve containing the balls therein, the collar being formedwith a ramp which connects two axial bores of different diameters formedinto the collar, so that in a first position of the collar, the borehaving the smaller diameter surrounds the recesses where the balls arereceived and prevents the balls to move radially towards the outer, andin a second position of the collar, the bore having the larger diametersurrounds the recesses where the balls are received, thus permitting theballs to move radially towards the outer, the ramp connecting the twobores acting, to move the balls back towards the center of the femaleportion.

The radial movement of the balls is thus controlled by an axial movementof the locking collar. An example of such a mechanism is described inU.S. Pat. No. 4,148,459 (Martinez), issued on 10 Apr. 1979, the completedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

This collar is generally biased by a strong compression spring whichtends to press the collar against a shoulder counterbored into thecylindrical sleeve. In this first position of the collar, ornonoperative position, the bore having the smaller diameter in thecollar surrounds the balls so that they are maintained in theirretracted or inner position.

Therefore, a quick disconnect coupling of the above type can operated asfollows. The locking collar is slid to its unlocking position andmaintained in this position while introducing the male portion into thefemale portion. When the male portion is fully introduced into thefemale portion, the locking collar can be released, the return springmoving same back to its first or rest position, thus locking the ballsand hence the male portion into the female portion.

Conventional quick disconnects of this type are used on hoses so thatthe hose is allowed to rotate, i.e. the male portion is allowed torotate within the female portion. Furthermore, the conventionaldisconnects are not suitable for high strength applications and/or hightorque applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide a quick-disconnect tool andquick-disconnect male connector that can be quickly connected togetherfor high strength applications in which the male connector and socketare held fast in relation to one another so that the male connectorcannot rotate within the socket. The tool and male connector can be usedto connect any desired device(s) together.

The objectives of the invention can be obtained by a quick disconnecttool comprising:

-   -   a socket defining a hollow socket chamber having a non-circular        inner mating surface constructed to mate with a male connector        having a non-circular outer mating surface, a socket chamber        opening into which the male connector can enter the socket        chamber, and at least one detent hole in the socket passing from        an outer surface of the socket to the socket chamber;    -   a detent located in the detent hole; and    -   a collar having an inside surface that slides over the outer        surface of the socket, the inside surface of the collar having a        locking surface and an unlocking surface, when the collar is in        a closed position on the socket the locking surface pushes the        detent into a closed position where the detent protrudes into        the socket chamber and when the collar is in an open position        the unlocking surface allows the detent to not protrude into the        socket chamber, wherein when the male connector is within the        socket chamber and the detent is in a closed position the detent        protrudes into the recess of the male connector locking the male        connector within the socket chamber.

The objectives and other objectives can also be obtained by a quickdisconnect tool and male connector comprising:

-   -   the male connector having a non-circular outer mating surface        and at least one recess on the outer mating surface; and    -   the quick disconnect tool comprising:        -   a socket defining a hollow socket chamber having a            non-circular inner surface constructed to mate with the            outer mating surface of the male connector, a socket chamber            opening into which the male connector can enter the socket            chamber, the outer mating surface of the male connector            having a shape so that the male connector cannot rotate            within the socket chamber, and at least one detent hole in            the socket passing from an outer surface of the socket to            the socket chamber;        -   a detent located in the detent hole; and        -   a collar having an inside surface that slides over the outer            surface of the socket, the inside surface of the collar            having a locking surface and an unlocking surface, when the            collar is in a closed position on the socket the locking            surface pushes the detent into a closed position where the            detent protrudes into the socket chamber and when the collar            is in an open position the unlocking surface allows the            detent to not protrude into the socket chamber, wherein when            the male connector is within the socket chamber and the            detent is in a closed position the detent protrudes into the            recess of the male connector locking the male connector            within the socket chamber.

The objectives and other objectives can be obtained by a method ofinstalling a quick disconnect comprising:

-   -   providing a male connector having a non-circular outer mating        surface and at least one recess on the outer mating surface;    -   providing a quick disconnect tool comprising:        -   a socket defining a hollow socket chamber having a            non-circular inner surface constructed to mate with the male            connector, a socket chamber opening into which the male            connector can enter the socket chamber, the outer mating            surface of the male connector having a shape so that the            male connector cannot rotate within the socket chamber, and            at least one detent hole in the socket passing from an outer            surface of the socket to the socket chamber;        -   a detent located in the detent hole; and        -   a collar having an inside surface that slides over the outer            surface of the socket, the inside surface of the collar            having a locking surface and an unlocking surface, when the            collar is in a closed position on the socket the locking            surface pushes the detent into a closed position where the            detent protrudes into the socket chamber and when the collar            is in an open position the unlocking surface allows the            detent to not protrude into the socket chamber, wherein when            the male connector is within the socket chamber and the            detent is in a closed position the detent protrudes into the            recess of the male connector locking the male connector            within the socket chamber; and    -   inserting the male connector into the chamber of the socket when        the collar is in an open position and moving the collar to a        closed position when the male connector is inside the chamber to        lock the male connector inside the socket chamber.

The objectives can also be obtained by providing a socket defining ahollow socket chamber having a non-circular inner surface constructed tomate a with male connector, a socket chamber opening into which the maleconnector can enter the socket chamber, the outer mating surface of themale connector having a shape so that the male connector cannot rotatewithin the socket chamber;

-   -   forming at least one detent hole in the socket passing from an        outer surface of the socket to the socket chamber;    -   inserting a detent located into the at least one detent hole;        and    -   sliding a collar over the socket, the socket having an inside        surface that slides over the outer surface of the socket, the        inside surface of the collar having a locking surface and an        unlocking surface, when the collar is in a closed position on        the socket the locking surface pushes the detent into a closed        position where the detent protrudes into the socket chamber and        when the collar is in an open position the unlocking surface        allows the detent to not protrude into the socket chamber,        wherein when the male connector is within the socket chamber and        the detent is in a closed position the detent protrudes into a        recess of the male connector locking the male connector within        the socket chamber.

The present invention provides numerous advantages over conventionalquick disconnects. Conventional quick disconnects provide a fluid secureconnection and the male and female connections can rotate in relation toeach other. In contrast, in the present invention, the female tool canbe used to drive the male connector, i.e. thread the male connector ontoa rod or into a surface. Conventional male connectors cannot be drivenonto a bolt or into a surface since there can be no torque transferbetween the female connector and the male connector. The presentinvention provides a high strength and high torque connection in whichthe female tool and male connector cannot rotate in relation to eachother. In the present invention, a mounted male connector can be used toconnect any desired device in which a high strength and high torqueconnection is desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a bottom view of the tool.

FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of the tool.

FIG. 1C illustrates a side view of the tool.

FIG. 2A illustrates a cut-away view of the tool in an open positionwhere the detent does not protrude into the socket cavity.

FIG. 2B illustrates a cut-away view of the tool in a closed positionwhere the detent protrudes into the socket cavity.

FIG. 3A illustrates a cut-away view of the tool having the detents in aclosed position protruding into the socket cavity.

FIG. 3B illustrates a cut-away view of the tool having the detents in anopen position not protruding into the socket cavity.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate exemplary non-circular shapes for the insidesurface of the socket chamber.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate top views of exemplary non-circular shapes forthe male connector mating surface.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate side views of exemplary types of quick disconnectmale connectors.

FIG. 7 illustrates and exemplary detent hole and detent.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary handle.

FIG. 9 illustrates use of a handle mounted to modified lug nut of avehicle tire.

FIG. 10 illustrates a male connector mounted to a device.

FIG. 11 illustrates a tool mounted to a device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be explained with reference to the attachednon-limiting drawings. The quick disconnect tool 2 and male connector40, 41 can be formed of any suitable material, including, but notlimited to, metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, and alloys. Apreferred material is steel.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the tool 2 comprises a socket 4. The socket 4has a socket body defining a hollow socket chamber 6 having anon-circular inner surface constructed to mate with the non-circularmating surface 44 of the quick disconnect male connector 40, 41. Thesocket 4 includes a socket opening 8 into which the male connector 40,41 can enter the socket chamber 6. The tool 2 also includes a collar 20and optionally a socket connector 10.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an internal view of the tool 2. The socket 4contains at least one detent hole 12 in the socket 4 passing from anouter surface of the socket 4 to the socket chamber 6. FIGS. 3A and 3Bshow a preferred hexagon form with six detent holes 12. A detent 14 ispresent in the detent hole 12. The collar 20 is constructed sized toslide over the socket 4. The collar 20 has an inside surface that slidesover the outer surface of the socket 4. The inside surface of the collar20 has a locking surface 25 and an unlocking surface 24, when the collar20 is in a closed position on the socket 4, as shown in FIG. 2B, thelocking surface 25 pushes the detent 14 into a closed position where thedetent 14 protrudes into the socket chamber 6. When the collar 20 isslid into an open position, as shown in FIG. 2A, the unlocking surface24 allows the detent 14 to not protrude into the socket chamber 6. Whenthe male connector 40 is within the socket chamber 6 and the detent 14is in a closed position as shown in FIG. 2B the detent 14 protrudes intothe recess 42 of the male connector 40 locking the male connector 40 atan insertion position within the socket chamber 6 so that the maleconnector 40 cannot move further in or out of the chamber 6. Thenon-circular mating surface 44 of the male connector 40 and thenon-circular inner mating surface of chamber 6 prevent the maleconnector 40 from rotating within the chamber 6 and the detent 14 locksthe male connector 40 within the chamber 6. FIG. 3A is another view ofthe detents 14 in a locked position protruding within the chamber 6. 3Bis another view of the detents 14 in an unlocked position not protrudingwithin the chamber 6. The socket 4 has channels 21 and 27, and eachchannel 21, 27 having an associated removable retaining ring 22 and 29present for retaining the collar 20 on the socket 4. The collar cancover both of the retaining rings 22 and 29 when the collar 20 is in aclosed position, shown in FIG. 2B, and the retaining ring 22 can beexposed when the collar 20 is in an open position, shown in FIG. 2A. Thetool 2 can include a spring 26 for biasing the collar 20 into a closedposition. The spring 26 can be between the retaining ring 29 and a ridge31 on the inside of the collar 20. When the collar 20 is slid into theopen position, the first retaining ring 22 can be exposed and removed.With the first retaining ring 22 removed, the collar 20 can be slid offof the socket 4. Then the second retaining ring 27 can then be removed.Other retaining devices can be used in place of the retaining rings 22and 27 to retain the collar 20 on the socket 4. The preferred form ofthe collar 20 is shown in the Figs in which the collar 20 slides alongthe outside surface of the socket 4 in a lengthwise direction. However,other collar designs can be utilized, such as collars that slide alongthe outside surface of the socket 4 in a widthwise direction, i.e.rotate about socket, or that slide in any direction along the outsidesurface of the socket 4 as desired. The main function of the collar isto lock and unlock the detent(s) 14.

The non-circular mating surface 44 and the non-circular shape of thechamber 6 can be any desired non-circular shape. Preferred non-circularshapes are hexagonal, square, and star shapes. Examples of preferrednon-circular shapes for the chamber 6 include square, hexagon and staras shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. Examples of preferred non-circular shapes forthe mating surface 44 include square, hexagon and star as shown in FIGS.5A-5C. The shape of the mating surface 44 does not have to be the sameas the shape of the chamber 6. The only requirements are that the maleconnector 40 is capable of being inserted into the chamber 6 and thatthe male connector 40 cannot rotate within the chamber 6. Preferably,the mating surface 44 and chamber 6 have the same shape.

Sockets for installing or removing bolts and nuts are now well known.Conventional sockets can be modified for use in the present invention byadding the detent hole(s) 12, channel 21 and channel 27, and theninstalling the detent(s) 14, spring 26, retaining rings 22 and 29, andcollar 20. Conventional sockets are most commonly hexagonal, or morecommonly referred to as “6-point” in lay terms. Conventional sockets aredriven by being attached to the driving tool via a male/female squareconnection fitting cared the square drive, which is an example ofsuitable socket connector 10. Standard sizes of square drives around theworld include ¼″, ⅜″, ½″, ¾″, 1″, 1½″, 2½″ and 3½″ square drive sizes (ade facto international standard with no metric equivalents) along withsome lesser used drivers such as ⅝″ square drive, and both #4 and #5spline drives specified in ANSI 107 specifications. This wide range ofsquare drive sizes provides for a wide variety of socket types and sizesto suit small to very large nuts and bolts. Some square drivers have athrough hole to attach the socket to the driver (using a retaining ringwith o-ring and pin type, or single piece molded retaining rings), alocking pin, or friction ball. Some common hand ratchets employ a quickrelease button on their top for quick socket release of smaller sockets.The tool chosen to drive the socket wrench ultimately supplies themechanical advantage needed by the user to provide the torque needed toloosen or tighten the fastener as may be required. Larger drivers aretypically used with higher torque, while smaller drivers are used forconvenience in smaller low torque applications. Given the limits ofhuman strength and fatigue, torque above 600 ft-lbs of torque willgenerally involve some kind of power assist, instead of the user simplypushing on the handle of a wrench. Very large sockets and drivers aretypically powered by hydraulics to achieve torque. The present inventionis suitable for any size socket and torque.

Bolts having external threads and nuts having internal threads, both ofwhich have a non-circular mating surface that mates with a socket torotate the bolts and nuts are now well known. The male connector 40 canbe a formed from conventional bolts or nuts by forming a recess 42 inthe non-circular mating surface 44 of the bolt or nut that isconstructed to mate with the socket chamber 6. Examples of such modifiedbolts, male connector 40, are shown in FIGS. 6A-6C. The external threads48 of the male connector 40 can be of any desired type, such as threadsthat screw into a threaded hole or into a surface, and into any desiredmaterial such as wood, metal, composites, ground, rock, plastic or anyother surface. The threads can be performed in the material or formed bythe threads on the bolt as the bolt is threaded into the surface. Theinternal threads 46 of the male connector 40 can be threaded onto anyrod having mating threads or the threads on the rod can be formed as themale connector 40 is threaded onto the rod. The recess 42 is preferablyformed in the non-circular mating surface 44 so that the mating surface44 is both sides of the recess as shown in the FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, the detent hole 12 can have a smaller diameter atthe opening 15 to the socket chamber 6 than the opening 16 to the outersurface of the socket 4 so that only a portion of the detent 14 can passinto socket chamber 6. If the detent 14 is in a preferred ball shape,the opening 16 can be larger than the diameter of the ball detent 14 sothe detent can be inserted into the detent hole 12 and the opening 15can be smaller than ball detent 14 diameter so that the ball detent 14cannot fall or move entirely into the chamber 6 and only a portion 17 ofthe detent 14 can protrude into the chamber 6. While a ball shape isshown in the drawings, the detent 14 can have any desired shape.

The socket 4 can include a socket connector 10 for connecting devices tothe socket 4. The socket connector 10 can be any desired shape andfunction. A preferred example of socket connector 10 is a conventionalsocket connector in the shape of a square so that any device have asquare socket connector can be connected to the socket 4. An example ofa devise is a socket handle 30 (FIG. 8) having a male socket connector32 that can be inserted into the socket connector 10. The tool 2 canprovides high strength and can be used under high loads. As shown inFIG. 9, the male connector 40 can be a lug nut on a vehicle wheel 52.The tool 2 can be used to attach a handle 30 that extends beyond thewheel to the male connector 40 (lug nut). When the wheel 52 is poweredby the vehicle, the wheel 52 and vehicle can be lifted by the handle 30contacting the ground as the wheel 52 is turned to thereby move thevehicle out of a hole, sand, mud, snow, or other situation. Since thesocket 4 and male connector 40 do not rotate in relation to each other,there is very little or no friction or wear occurring during use.Another example of a device is chains that can be easily and quicklyattached to the lug nut male connector 40 using the tool 2. The tool 2is capable of releasably and quickly connecting one or more devicestogether in to provide a high torque and high strength connection.

In another embodiment, as shown in the FIG. 10, the male connector canbe fastened to or integrally formed with a first device 50 in anydesired matter, such as welding, gluing, mechanical fastening, beingintegrally formed, etc. As shown in FIG. 11, the socket 4 can be can befastened to or integrally formed with a second device 51 in any desiredmatter, such as welding, gluing, mechanical fastening, being integrallyformed, etc. Thus, any combination of devices can fastened to each otherso that the devices cannot move or rotate with regard to each otherunder high loads. For example, an entire multi-ton vehicle can be liftedwith one tool and male connector.

The male connector 40, 41 can be driven into a surface using the tool 2,such as a wall, floor, ground, or any other surface to provide a quickdisconnect capability. Devices having a tool 2 mounted thereon caneasily be connected to the male connector 40, 41 to provide a highstrength and high torque connection between the device and the surface.Examples of devices include shelves, pictures, cabinets, hangers,televisions, and cables. The tool 2 and male connector 40, 41 can besuitable for climbing applications, where the connector 40, 41 is driveninto a rock face. The tool 2 and male connector 40, 41 preferably do notprovide a fluid transfer, as shown in the Figs.

While the claimed invention has been described in detail and withreference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can bemade to the claimed invention without departing from the spirit andscope thereof. For example, while a collar 20 is shown in the drawings,other structures to close and open the detents 14 can be used.

1. A quick disconnect tool comprising: a socket defining a hollow socketchamber having a non-circular inner mating surface constructed to matewith a male connector having a non-circular outer mating surface, asocket chamber opening into which the male connector can enter thesocket chamber, and at least one detent hole in the socket passing froman outer surface of the socket to the socket chamber; a detent locatedin the detent hole; and a collar having an inside surface that slidesover the outer surface of the socket, the inside surface of the collarhaving a locking surface and an unlocking surface, when the collar is ina closed position on the socket the locking surface pushes the detentinto a closed position where the detent protrudes into the socketchamber and when the collar is in an open position the unlocking surfaceallows the detent to not protrude into the socket chamber, wherein whenthe male connector is within the socket chamber and the detent is in aclosed position the detent protrudes into the recess of the maleconnector locking the male connector within the socket chamber.
 2. Thequick disconnect tool according to claim 1, wherein the socket having asocket connection opposing the socket chamber opening.
 3. The quickdisconnect tool according to claim 1, wherein the socket chamber is theshape of a hexagon, a square, or a star.
 4. The quick disconnect toolaccording to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of detent holes andeach detent hole having an associated detent.
 5. A quick disconnect tooland male connector comprising: the male connector having a non-circularouter mating surface and at least one recess on the outer matingsurface; and the quick disconnect tool comprising: a socket defining ahollow socket chamber having a non-circular inner surface constructed tomate with the outer mating surface of the male connector, a socketchamber opening into which the male connector can enter the socketchamber, the outer mating surface of the male connector having a shapeso that the male connector cannot rotate within the socket chamber, andat least one detent hole in the socket passing from an outer surface ofthe socket to the socket chamber; a detent located in the detent hole;and a collar having an inside surface that slides over the outer surfaceof the socket, the inside surface of the collar having a locking surfaceand an unlocking surface, when the collar is in a closed position on thesocket the locking surface pushes the detent into a closed positionwhere the detent protrudes into the socket chamber and when the collaris in an open position the unlocking surface allows the detent to notprotrude into the socket chamber, wherein when the male connector iswithin the socket chamber and the detent is in a closed position thedetent protrudes into the recess of the male connector locking the maleconnector within the socket chamber.
 6. The quick disconnect tool andmale connector according to claim 5, wherein the outer mating surface ofthe male connector and the inner surface of the socket chamber aresubstantially the same shape.
 7. The quick disconnect tool and maleconnector according to claim 5, wherein the male connector furthercomprising inner threads or outer threads.
 8. The quick disconnect tooland male connector according to claim 5, wherein the male connector isconnected to a first device so that the tool can connect to the firstdevice by the male connector and when the tool is connected to the maleconnector the first device cannot rotate in relation to the tool.
 9. Thequick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, whereinthe tool is connected to a second device so that the second device canconnect to the male connector by the tool and when the tool is connectedto the male connector the second device cannot rotate in relation to themale connector.
 10. The quick disconnect tool and male connectoraccording to claim 5, wherein the male connector is connected to a firstdevice and the tool is connected to a second device so that when thetool is connected to the male connector the first and second devices areconnected and the first device cannot rotate in relation to the seconddevice.
 11. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according toclaim 5, wherein the socket having a socket connection opposing thesocket chamber opening.
 12. The quick disconnect tool and male connectoraccording to claim 5, wherein the socket chamber is the shape of ahexagon, a square, or a star.
 13. The quick disconnect tool and maleconnector according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of detentholes and each detent hole having an associated detent.
 14. The quickdisconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, wherein themale connector is a lug nut for a vehicle.
 15. The quick disconnect tooland male connector according to claim 14, wherein the quick disconnecttool further comprises a handle that extend beyond a tire when connectedto the lug nut.
 16. The quick disconnect tool and male connectoraccording to claim 14, wherein the tool is connected to a device and thedevice can be connected to the lug nut by connecting the tool to themale connector.
 17. A method of installing a quick disconnectcomprising: providing a male connector having a non-circular outermating surface and at least one recess on the outer mating surface;providing a quick disconnect tool comprising: a socket defining a hollowsocket chamber having a non-circular inner surface constructed to matewith the male connector, a socket chamber opening into which the maleconnector can enter the socket chamber, the outer mating surface of themale connector having a shape so that the male connector cannot rotatewithin the socket chamber, and at least one detent hole in the socketpassing from an outer surface of the socket to the socket chamber; adetent located in the detent hole; and a collar having an inside surfacethat slides over the outer surface of the socket, the inside surface ofthe collar having a locking surface and an unlocking surface, when thecollar is in a closed position on the socket the locking surface pushesthe detent into a closed position where the detent protrudes into thesocket chamber and when the collar is in an open position the unlockingsurface allows the detent to not protrude into the socket chamber,wherein when the male connector is within the socket chamber and thedetent is in a closed position the detent protrudes into the recess ofthe male connector locking the male connector within the socket chamber;and inserting the male connector into the chamber of the socket when thecollar is in an open position and moving the collar to a closed positionwhen the male connector is inside the chamber to lock the male connectorinside the socket chamber.
 18. The method according to claim 17, whereinthe male connector further comprises internal or external threads andthe method further comprising using the quick disconnect tool to rotatethe male connector and screw the male connector onto or into threads tomount the male connector; and moving the collar into an open positionand removing the quick disconnect tool from the male connector.
 19. Themethod according to claim 17, further comprising connecting a firstdevice to the male connector.
 20. The method according to claim 17,wherein the outer mating surface of the male connector and the innersurface of the socket chamber are substantially the same shape.